Ex-USD basketball star says he didn’t fix any games

Brandon Johnson, USD's leading scorer, told FBI he did take money after games

The government’s response said that Johnson was advised orally of his rights and signed a written waiver. That waiver, along with an audio copy of the interview, were included as exhibits.

How the case unfolds

Johnson, 25, was arrested at 7:35 a.m. April 9, 2011, at his home in the Houston area and taken to the FBI offices, where agents Cheviron and Houska questioned him. Cheviron describes himself in court records as being “involved with this investigation from the outset.”

That was a Saturday. Two days later, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy held a news conference in San Diego announcing the indictment of 10 people for distributing marijuana, operating an illegal sports gambling ring and fixing college basketball games.

Three of the defendants had ties to USD’s basketball program: Johnson, Brown and former player Brandon Dowdy, who finished his career at the University of California Riverside.

In a recent court filing, federal prosecutors said that three of the defendants — Steve Goria, Paul Thweni and Richard Garmo — “had gained access to fixing games at USD by utilizing Brown, who had previously been an assistant coach with the USD basketball program.”

“Goria, Thweni and Garmo learned through Brown that Johnson, the starting point guard at USD, was willing to influence the outcome of games in exchange for money,” the prosecutors said.

At first, Johnson admitted only to receiving about $2,500 or $3,000 from Brown during the 2009-2010 season. But by the middle of the FBI interview, he said Brown told him the point spreads and how the bettors were wagering — both for the first half and the entire game. An excerpt:

FBI agent: Did T.J. come to you and say, “Hey, look, this is the points, this is the first-half points, these are the second-half points?”

Johnson: Mm-hmm.

FBI agent: So he told you those before?

Johnson: Yeah.

FBI agent: So you consciously knew what the points were?

Johnson: Yeah.

FBI agent: And he said, “Look, we bet this way”?

Johnson: I know the bets.

Johnson identifies two such games: at Portland on Feb. 11, 2010, and home against Loyola Marymount two weeks later.

He didn’t play against Portland, a 70-56 loss, either because he had a groin injury (the school’s version) or because he was suspended (his version in the FBI interview). Against Loyola Marymount, he came off the bench and had four points in 25 minutes, making 1 of 6 shots and committing five turnovers. In the final minute, with USD trailing by four, Johnson missed a shot and committed a turnover on consecutive possessions.

USD was favored by 3½ points and lost 72-69, and Johnson said he received money from Brown afterward, according to the transcript.

What the interview reveals

“That (FBI) conversation with Brandon shows only two things,” said Matthews, Brown’s attorney. “One, that Brandon was aware people were betting on USD basketball games. But that’s common knowledge, because people bet on college basketball games all the time.

“And two, that Brandon got money from T.J. Brown. But T.J. considered him to be like his little brother. He had been helping Brandon financially for years. That Brandon says he got money establishes no criminality.”